'One life, don't waste it on crime'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Learners representing seven local schools, some where delinquency and criminality has reared its ugly head in recent months, heard a few sobering words on Wednesday, 21 August when the Department of Correctional Services and their stakeholders presented an anti- crime campaign.

Mrs Dlwathi, head of Community Corrections, in her opening address said that the campaign was the result of many talks with principals at local schools.

"We can only do our bit to prevent crime if we form effective partnerships. What seems to be a small thing, like jabbing another learner with a pencil, can turn into stabbing with a knife. This could make you miss your life dream an purpose."

This sentiment was echoed by several other speakers. After initially applauding and cheering loudly as offenders currently incarcerated and ex-offenders took to the stage to share their stories, the audience grew silent as they took in the severity of what was conveyed.

Real life stories
*Patrick, said he lost everything due to bad choices. By the time he committed crime and was sentenced, he was a successful intern working at a government department. He spoke on how he struggled to not become a member of the notorious numbers gang, found in South African prisons. "I could not tell anyone about how I was assaulted, because if you tell on other prisoners, your life becomes hell." He urged the learners to be careful of who they surrounded themselves with.

*Denver comes from a small Eastern Cape town and dropped out of school in Grade 8.

Aged 18, he committed a murder. "Your first day in prison, is a terrible day. I saw another prisoner being severely assaulted."

Thanks to the influence of spiritual workers, he realized his worth and potential. "Prison is not a nice place. Make the right decisions in order to make a success of your lives."

*Timothy, a convicted criminal who served his time, gave the learners a piece of his mind. "I was a gangster before I went to prison and continued being one when I was inside.

Most of you know me. If you don't take anything from what you are being told today, you don't know who you are and don't know where you are going. I don't want to see you do what I did. You can try and find these things out for yourself, but you will not stand the test of time."

He said that during his prison time, he was incarcerated with those serving life sentences, others still in prison and some have passed away since. "By the grace of God alone, I am still alive. I am just giving you advice. Listen to your teachers and parents.

If you know what you want in life, learn and study. All the best to you."

*David, a much older ex-offender simply told the learners: "To all of you busy with the stabbings, stop that nonsense. We cannot waste our time here today, if you don't want to listen."

'Crime destroys'
Expert on gangsterism, Mr Malgas delivered a powerful talk. He said that the youth end up in groups that perpetrate crime because they seek "easy money" and for a sense of belonging.

"It is a bad excuse to blame your absent father and the fact that your mother raises you alone. Those are just excuses."

He reiterated that it is by virtue of your choices that your life develops into a certain direction.

"Your attitude determines your altitude," he concluded.

Sergeant Tomela from the KwaNonqaba Police said that 20% of their cases reported involved the youth.

He said that a boy aged 12 has been connected to a robbery using a knife. Furthermore, he said that shoplifting and theft from motor vehicles are also crimes committed by youths.

He also warned against the possibility of becoming a victim of a so-called bundu court, should the community suspect that a crime has been committed. "Three things can happen when you do crime. You can end up in jail, or disabled or dead," he warned.

National Prosecution Authority representative, Mr Van der Merwe simply told the learners that "crime destroys". "I am not here to scare you, I here to warn you. I envy you because you have time, a future and opportunity. You have one life, don't waste it on crime."

* Names used are pseudonyms.

Learners from seven local schools attended the anti-crime campaign hosted at Isalathiso Primary School.

Mr Malgas, who served in the Department of Correctional Services for more than 40 ears working with youth offenders, made an impact with his talk on gangsterism.

Mr Zweli Sofuthe, head of the Mossel Bay Correctional Youth Centre, said that the campaign is part of fulfilling the Department of Correctional Services' mandate regarding crime prevention.

Mrs Dlwathi, head of Community Corrections in Mossel Bay explained that the campaign was the result of a many talks and interviews with principals at local schools.